Ladder foot



Sept. 21, 1948. '0. A. LINDER ETAL 2,449,609

LADDER FOOT Filed Jan. 21, 1947 Patented Sept. 21:, 1948 LADDER FOOT Otto A.. Linder and Edward J Klause,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 21, 1947, Serial No. 723,290

This invention relates to ladders and more particularly and specifically it relates to an improved adjustable Yfoot attachment for ladders.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a new and improved attachment to be applied to a ladder adjacent the feet thereof which, when placed in an operable position, provides a ground engaging foot for each leg of the ladder thereby eliminating the possibility of the ladder slipping or sliding from beneath the occupant thereof and causing injury thereto.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a foot member for aladder which is adapted by a resilient seating means to assumedierent positions and angles at the bottom of the ladder to conform with the diiierent angular positions in which the ladder is placed for its various uses.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described in which the resilient seating means for the foot tends to absorb the shock of whip and back-lash of the ladder which is inherent in any ladder when an occupant climbs thereon.

Still another object of this invention `is the provision of a ladder foot such as set forth herein which is normally retained in a out-of-the- Way position on the inner surface of the ladders legs and a device which is quickly and easily` brought into an operable position by either a hand or foot of the user. This device also provides for such a construction which is of eX- tremely simple, durable and inexpensive design.

Still further improvements and advantages of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a ladder with the safety feet aixed thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the ladder legs and the foot thereon.

Fig. 3 is a view of Fig. 2 with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration of the working mechanism of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings 3 Claims. (Cl. 228-63) each foot of the ladder and is constructed and operated inthe manner now to` be described. Inasmuch as the foot secured to each leg of the ladder is identical, the `following description will refer to the singular forthe purpose of clearer illustration. l

The foot comprises a ilat rectangular metallic plate 2 which is adapted to be secured vertically to the lower inner leg of the ladder by screws 3 or the like. This plate 2 carries a pair of outwardly extending flanges 4 one from each vertical edge thereof, these flanges originating at a spaced distance from each end of said plate.

A U-shaped plate member 5 is slidably mounted within said `flanges with the open side thereof outwardly disposed from said plate 2. A small rectangular housing 6 is securedto the upper end of said sliding member at a slight angle from the horizontal and a T-shaped bar member 'l is secured with its head between the sides of said housing and the leg thereof projecting outwardly through a slot 8 in the housing face.

A cylindrical tube 9 is secured t0 the face of the sliding plate beneath said housing at the same angular disposition so that the upper end of said cylinder lies in a parallel plane with and adjacent to the lower end of said housing. A coil spring l0 is mounted and secured at its upper end in said cylindrical tube and carries a cylindrical stud II at its bottom, with said stud slidable in said tube. A flat rectangular plate B is formed at the lower end of said stud in a powhich illustrate the preferred embodiments of sition external the tube, and the lower surface,

of this plate B is provided with a plurality of ground or oor engaging teeth I2.

A coiled spring I3 is secured to the upper end of one of said plate flanges 4 and depends within the sliding member 5 where it is secured so as to normally retain the sliding member in an upwardly retracted position between said flanges.

A cover C of rectangular shape and having one face and one end thereof open is placed over the flanges 4 with open face inward and the open end downward to enclose the foot mechanism as illustrated. A vertical L-shaped slot I4 is provided in the cover C in a position so that the extended end of the T rod 'I extends outwardly through the upper end of the vertical leg of the slot when the mechanism is in the described position. I

When the foot is to be placed in an operable condition the extended end of the T arm 'l is moved downward, by the hand or foot, in the slot I'4 and then locked in a down position by being moved horizontally into the foot of the IL..

The above operation causes the down movement of the sliding plate against the tension of the spring I3 and thus bringing the toothed foot into contact with the ground or floor. The toothed foot securely engages the floor and forms, because of the coil spring Ill, a secure footing support for the ladder adapted to easily absorb the shock of back-lash and the like caused by movement of a person on the ladder, and thus preventing the slipping and sliding of the ladder from beneath the occupant thereof.

Having thus described the construction and function of this invention what I desire to claim in Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a ladder or the like' a removable foot therefor of the character described comprising, a rectangular plate secured to the lower leg of said ladder, vertical flanges bordering said plate, a U-shaped member slidably mounted within said flanges, resilient means retaining said sliding member upwardly retracted between said lianges, a bracket secured to said sliding member, a T-shaped member carried by said bracket with the leg of said T in an outwardly extended position, a cylindrical tube secured to said sliding member, a ground engaging foot resiliently carried .within said tube, and said T leg being adapted to be lowered vand locked against the resilient means to position said foot in an extended ground engaging position for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a ladder or the like a removable foot therefor of the character described comprising, a plate secured toy thelower end of said ladder leg, Vertical flanges bordering said plate, a U-shaped member slidably mounted within said flanges, a springV interconnecting said plate and said sliding member normally retaining said sliding member in an upwardly retracted position between said flanges, a rectangular bracket arranged at an angle from' the horizontal and secured to said sliding member, a T-shaped rod with the head thereof secured Within said bracket and the leg thereof outwardly projected therefrom, a cylindrical tube disposed below said bracket at an angle from the horizontal correspending to that of said bracket and secured to said sliding member, a coil spring secured at its upper end within said tube, a ground engaging foot slidably mounted within the lower end of saidtube and secured to the lower end of said spring, a cover adapted to enclose the outer face and top of said flange-s, lthere being an L-shaped slot in said cover adapted to receive the extended foot of saidT-shaped rod, and means adapting V Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date' 2,313,469 Forsmanim Mar. 9,1943 

